Interlocked structure



Feb. 20, 1940. H. w. ROMANOFF 2,191,161

INTERLOCKED STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 4, 1939 Fiai' .H/PPOLYTE WBOMANOFF INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,191,161 c I INTERLOCKED STRUCTURE Hippolyte W. Romanoir, New York, N. Y. Application February 4, 1939, Serial No. 254,641

Claims. .(Gl.189-34) My invention relates to interlocked structures and has particular r'eference'to structures formed of beams supporting flat panels.

My invention has for its object to provide an interlocked structure which can be assembled of preformed beams made of sheet steel or other suitable sheet material, the assembling being accomplished by simply interlocking the beams without any additional fastening means such as riveting, welding, etc.

Another object of my invention is to provide structure of a type suitable for supportingfiat panels in spaced relation to each other, the panels being assembled in two spaced planes if desired, so that the complete structure represents a hollow wall of great strength and'rigidity. The structure is so made that the panels are locked on the beams Without any additional fastening means such as screws, etc. The panels if desired, may be made of glass.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a fractional view of my structure in the process of assembling the same. v

Fig. 2 is a side'view of a beam used in my structure.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the beam.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the beam with theends bent inwardly for assembling the side panels.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another modifica- 'tion.

Fig. 6 is aperspective 'view of still another" modification.

My interlocked structure consists of beams I formed of sheet steel or other suitable material The beams are of such as fiber, cardboard, etc. a U-shaped section and are provided with recesses with shoulders 2 at the junction of the two sides of the U with the bottom wall of the U, the depth of the recess corresponding to the thickness of panels 3 which maybe of sheet metal, building board, glass, etc. i v

The edges or the beam are bent out forming flanges 4 for engaging the edges of the panels 3. The width of the b am must be at least twice the width of the flange so that the panels can be inserted in their place at the beams by squeezing together the flanged sides as shown in Fig. 4. The beams are provided with slots 5 at spaced intervals corresponding to the length of the panels, the width of the slots corresponding to the overall thickness of the beam. The slots extend half way through the depth of the beam so that the beams can be assembled together by joining the slotted portions as shown in Fig. 1. Rectangular panels 3 are placed on the shoulders 2 being retained'by the flanges 4. For assembling the panels the flanges-are bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 4 and then spread apart by spacing wedges or bars 6 which may be made of Wood as in Fig. 1 or of a suitable fire resisting material such as asbestos-board, etc'. The wedges can be also made of iron in the form of inverted channels or U-shaped beams l as shown in Fig. 4.

A modified construction i shown .in Fig. 5, the beam 8 being of a simp e U-shaped section without shoulders and flanges. The panels 9 are made in the form. of long strips of metal (or glass or other material if desired) abutting the edges of the sides of the beam and held in place by flanges ill of wedge members ll made as U-shaped beams of the depth about one half the depth of the beams 8. stiffening ri bs l2 may be provided in the members, I l. Ribs 13 may be provided in the walls of the beams I and 8, engagingcorresponding notches M in the edges of the beams at the slot 5. The beams are thereby effectively interlocked when the wedges are placed in position,

preventing the members of the structure from being separated or jarred loose.

The beams I may be placed endwise in pairs against ,each other as shownin Fig. 6, being held together by fiat separators or boards l5. These boards have .slots' 5 opposite each other; otherwise, construction is similar to one shown in Figs.

My structure can be conveniently used for building walls of houses, floors, ceilings, etc. The panels can be made of glass, transparent or translucent as desired, or of any ordinary building ma terial, corrugated or fiat sheet 'iron, building board, etc. Strong cellular boards can be also made by my method of paper or fiber, the strength being greatly enhanced by gluing the parts together. a

I claim as my invention: 1. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams undercut at spaced intervals by slots'having width of the beams, the

beams being joined together at right angles to each other by interlocking the undercut portions and wedge members inserted between the outer portions of the sides of the beams for pressing the sides of the beams against the abutting edges of the transverse beams.. I

3. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams having sides spaced apart, the bridge portions 01 the beams having recesses and shoulders, the sides having outwardly extending flanges, the beams having slots out through the bridge portions at spaced intervals, the width of the slots corresponding to the overall thickness of the beams and extending about half way through the beams, and panels fitted at their edges between the shoulders of fltting in the cells and resting on the beam shoulders, and means to retain the panels against the shoulders. a

5. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams and panels, the beams having recesses and shoulders at the bridge portions for the edges of the panels and having slots cut through the bridge portions at spaced intervals, the width of the slots corresponding to the overall thickness of the beams, the beams being joined together by interlocking the slotted portions thereby forming a plurality of cells between the sides of the adjacent beams, the panels fitting in the cells and resting on the beamshoulders, means to retain the panels against the shoulders, comprising flanges extending outwardly from the edges of the beams over the edges of the panels.

6. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams and panels, the beams having recesses and shoulders at the bridge portions for the edges of thepanels and having slots cut through the bridge portions at spaced intervals, the width oi the slots corresponding to the overall thickness of the beams, the beamsbeing joined together by interlocking'the slotted portions thereby forming a plurality of cells between the sides of the adjacent beams, the panels fitting in the cells and resting on the beam shoulders,v means to retain the panels against the shoulders, comprising flanges extending outwardly from the edges of the beams over the edges of the panels, theflanges being relatively narrow, not exceeding one half 0! the overall thickness of the beams, so as-to admit of inser-- tion of the panels by squeezing together the sides of the beams.

. '7. An interlocked structure comprising a pluslots cutthrough the bridge portions at spaced intervals, the width of the slots corresponding to the overall thicknes oi the beams, the beams being joined together by interlocking the slotted portions thereby forming a plurality of cells between the sides of the adjacent beams, the panels fitting in the cells and resting on the beam shoulders, means to retain the panels against the shoulders, comprising flanges extending outwardly from the edges of the beams over the edges of the panels, and wedge members inserted between the sides of each beam.

8. An interlocked structure comprising a pinrality of U-shaped beams undercut at spaced intervals by slots having width of the beams,

the beams being joined together at right angles to each other by interlocking the undercut portions thereby forming a plurality of rectangular cells, panels placed on the bridge portions of the longitudinal beams and abutting the edges of the transverse beams, and flanged wedge members inserted between the sides of the beam, the

"flanges extending over the edges 01' the panels for holding them against the bridge portions of the beams,

9. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams undercut at spaced intervals by slots having width 01 thebeams, the beams being joined together at right angles to each other by interlocking the undercut portions thereby forming a plurality of rectangular cells, wedge members inserted between the outer portions of the sides of the beams for pressing the sides of the beams against the abutting edges of the transverse beams, and means to lock together the abutting portions 01 the beams by the wedge members, said means comprising mutually engaging notches and ribs.

10. An interlocked structure comprising a plurality of U-shaped beams undercut at spaced intervals by slots having width of the beams,

the beams being joined together at right angles to each other by interlocking the undercut portions thereby forming a plurality of rectangular cells, wedge members inserted between the outer portions-of the sides of the beams for pressing the sides of the beams against the abutting edges oi the transverse beams, and ribson the solid sides or the beams, the edges of the beams at theslots having notches for engaging theribs.

HIPPOLY'I'E W. ROMANOFF. 

